Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 16: Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjay Gupta has issued certain directives in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting poor working of State Pollution Control Board.
When the PIL filed by Advocate Rajinder Singh Jamwal came up for hearing, it was submitted that with regard to solid waste management two companies, namely AG ENVIRO Infra and Antony Lara Enviro Solutions and Excel Industries have been short-listed and have been found to be technically qualified. It was further submitted that file has been submitted to the Housing and Urban Development Department for further orders.
Upon this, Division Bench directed Housing and Urban Development Department to consider the proposal and take appropriate decision within two weeks.
With regard to the e-waste management, it was submitted that keeping in view the e-Waste Management Rules, 2016, a draft action plan for e-waste management of Jammu city has been submitted to the Housing and Urban Development Department for further appropriate action.
Upon this, DB said that this also shall be considered by the Housing and Urban Development Department and appropriate decision be taken within two weeks.
AAG Rohit Kapoor appearing for the respondents submitted that with a view to implement the entire project prepared for e-waste management at least three months time is required. “However, in our view, the project can be initiated, as a pilot project, in certain zones or in certain areas and the expansion can take place there from”, the DB said.
“To begin with major institutions, which have been mentioned in the report, can be identified for commencement for this pilot project”, the DB said.
About establishment of 16 quality ambient air monitoring centres, AAG submitted that a proposal has already been sent to the Central Pollution Control Board for funding establishment of these centres. Accordingly, DB directed Central Pollution Control Board to release the money in terms of the sanction already granted within two weeks so that the requisite centres can be set up at the earliest by the State Pollution Control Board.
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